The Proust Q&A: Alois Clemens Lageder

Winemaking has been part of the history of the Lageder family for more than 150 years and the estate in Alto Adige goes back to 1823. The winery is jointly managed by sixth generation winemaker, Alois Clemens Lageder and his father, Alois Lageder. Alois Clemens speaks to db about Batman being his hero and what he looks for in a woman.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

To live in a small village, having my own farm where I can grow vegetables and own a few animals on my own. On the other hand it should not be too far from a nice city in order to have the possibility to get impulses from the urban lifestyle. It’s difficult to choose!

What is your greatest fear?

That one day I will not be able to motivate myself in the same way I do now.

Which living person do you most admire?
My father, Alois Lageder.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I try as much as possible to observe things, adapt things and combine things that normally wouldn’t fit together

What is your current state of mind?

Forward-looking.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? 

The art to laugh about herself.

Who or what is the greatest love of your life?

There are more than one!

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

That people should not always complain about their life. People forget how lucky they are.

When and where were you happiest?

Of course, there are moments where I feel anger and sadness, but I can’t really remember a long period in which I haven’t been happy. The last time was today in my car driving alone on the highway, listening to good music and thinking about the future.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I sometimes could be less eager.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To have a photographic memory.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

That I have always chosen places and countries to live in where I didn’t know anyone from the start. Forcing me to be by myself and trying to connect with people in a foreign city has helped me a lot to grow.

Where would you most like to live?

It’s difficult to say because it does often change. I’m very happy to live in Bolzano but I always want to keep the will to get inspired from other places.

What is your most treasured possession?

My intense and good social life.

What is your most marked characteristic?

My satisfaction.

Who is your favorite writer?

Hermann Hesse.

Who is your hero of fiction?

Batman.

What is it that you most dislike?

People who complain too much about their life.

What is your greatest regret?

I lived one year in Geisenheim, where I studied viticulture and oenology. Geisenheim is located in Rheingau, Germany, which is a great wine region. I do regret that I haven’t took the time to visit more vineyards and colleges.

What is your motto?

We should not always take ourselves too seriously but rather try to laugh more about ourselves and observe from the outside. It would solve many problems.

Who would be your ideal dinner party guests and what three wines would you serve?

I would love to get to know Roger Federer. For the dinner party I would serve one of our wines, the 2001 Löwengang Chardonnay and then a 2005 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne grand cru 2005 and a Pinot Noir from Domaine Dujac.